New non-league Fulham capture Ben Wright has been told he has what it takes to get to the top.

The assurance comes from no less than Roy Hodgson, who proved it with a shock £50,000 transfer of Wright from Blue Square South Hampton & Richmond to Fulham this week.

The 19-year-old said: "Hodgson told me to believe in myself and that if I knuckle down and work hard I have the ability to play in Fulham's first team."

In fact, the Whites boss snapped up Hampton's summer signing without even bothering with a formal trial, while Reading and Millwall dithered over whether to take a gamble on the man whose 13 goals have fired Hampton's title bid. Wright added: "My goal is a first-team appearance this season."